Innovate Logistics, one of the UKs leading providers of temperature controlled storage and distribution, has invested 2m to overhaul its warehouse management system throughout its sites. As a result the company has achieved 99 per cent picking accuracy.

One of the greatest challenges for logistics providers today is being able to respond to increasing pressure from customers for flexible volumes to meet consumer demand. Innovate procured the Manhattan Warehouse Management and Performance Management system due to its ability to provide enhanced tracking and visibility of products throughout the supply chain. This advanced capability will enable Innovate to anticipate stock fluctuations, plan proactively and satisfy customer requirements.

Tim Bolam, Innovates business improvement director responsible for the implementation of the system across the business, explains: We needed to upgrade to an integrated platform with a full e-business capability to provide real time stock visibility for our customers. The Manhattan system met our functionality requirements and fits in with many customers existing networks.

The EDI communication will facilitate the two-way integration with our customers to be able to receive advance visibility of inbound stock, plan the resources to handle it as well as pick the product and despatch it all to a tight timetable. With this advanced capability we will be able to deliver higher service levels and greater customer satisfaction.

Innovate piloted the system at its Manton Wood site and has since achieved 99.96 per cent picking accuracy. After fine tuning and operational tweeking to further improve productivity and systems reporting, it is ready to roll out across all Innovates sites. The expected completion date for this mammoth project is scheduled for September 2008.

According to Bolam, advanced planning is fundamental to ensure multi-site compatibility and avoid costly system failures. We conducted an audit of each facility to benchmark financials, staffing and productivity rates and reviewed the existing IT infrastructure to determine where improvements were needed. We then developed a detailed implementation plan to ensure best practice was adhered to and compliance to the overall system architecture was achieved.

To deliver the system to each location, a dedicated Manhattan roll out team was formed. This is led by Tim and supported by Amir Khokhar, senior IT project manager. Together with key personnel from each site, their main objective will be to communicate the instructions of the system to all employees and ensure harmonised approach is achieved.

Pete Osborne, managing director, comments: This investment represents our commitment to providing our customers with an exceptional level of service underpinned by a streamlined and efficient throughput. Its a significant development in our growth as a company and Tims expertise in the area of e-commerce makes him the ideal candidate to oversee its successful delivery.

Innovate Logistics has logistics centres in Birmingham, Chesterfield, Grantham, Newark, Newcastle, Scunthorpe, Westbury, Worksop and Nottingham which is also the home of the corporate headquarters and transport bases in Leeds and the Ardo premises in Ashford.

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